Stem for pipes, cigar and cigarette holders



Feb. 18,1941. RQLA V 2,232,540

STEM FOR fiIPES, CIGAR AND CIGARETTE HOLDERS Filed Dec. 4, 1959 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE STEM FOR PIPES, CIGAR AND CIGARETTE HOLDERS Frank G. La Valle, Chicago, Ill. Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,438

6 Claims.

This invention relates to stems or mouthpieces for smoking devices or cigar and cigarette holders.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and desirable construction of mouthpiece or bit for such stems which will properly spread or diffuse the smoke to insure a cool and dry fragrant smoke and prevent the smoke impinging upon one point of the tongue or mouth of the user and burning or biting especially at the tip of the tongue.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate holding the pipe in the mouth between the teeth and to prevent a slug from being drawn into the mouth and throat, as well as to facilitate cleaning of the stem and lip or bit and removal of saliva While allowing the smoke to filter through from the stem passage and to spread the same in the mouth.

Another object is to provide a novel and simple method of producing the stem or mouthpiece from a plastic, such as vulcanized hard rubber to facilitate molding thereof.

Further objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in whichi Fig. l is a side elevation of a smokers article illustrated as a pipe with the stem thereof in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side sectional elevation of the stem or mouthpiece;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end View of the mouthpiece end;

. but by way of illustration in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown as a stem for a pipe. However, its application and the forms shown in Figs. 4 and 7 are applicable to cigar or cigarette holders. As shown, l0 designates a tobacco pipe having a bowl H and a stem [2 in the form of an extension of the bowl. The mouthpiece or stem proper is designated at [3 and the extension I2 is shown provided with a socket or bore I4, preferably tapered to receive a reduced tapered portion [5 at the enlarged end of the tapered oval mouthpiece l3, so as to align the bore or smoke passage l 6 of the extension with the bore or smoke passage l'l through the stem or mouthpiece l3 which may be tapered as shown.

The small end of the mouthpiece I3 is provided with an enlargement in the form of an oval biteless lip or bit l8 which may be integral as shown, projecting above and below the topand bottom of the mouthpiece at the front to provide a top shoulder I9 and a bottom shoulder 20 both extending substantially vertically or at right. angles to the top and bottom faces of the mouthpiece to facilitate gripping or holding the device between the teeth and lips. The stem, while shown and described as being of oval cross section and considerably wider horizontally than it is thick vertically, may be of any suitable shape and is preferably of vulcanized hard rubber or other plastic material which may be molded to any desired shape or size.

The enlargement, forming the bit or lip portion l8 which may be oval lengthwise thereof or transversely of the mouthpiece, stem or holder tapers in opposite directions and is provided with a transverse passage 21 below the vertical center thereof and of relatively small area or cross-section compared to the bit l8 intersecting the small end of the tapered bore or smoke passage I! which extends into the bit I8 and extending equidistantly on opposite sides thereof to form a tubular bit with the passage 2i of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length and freely open at the ends and preferably with the bore ll of the stem extending substantially tangentially thereto. In Fig. 4 of the drawing the small end of the tapered passage il in the bit 18 is above communicateswith and is tangential to the top or above the median line of the opening or passage 2| at the bottom of the passage H as shown at 22 so that any saliva, nicotine, particles 7 of tobacco or a slug will drain from the passage ll into the bore or passage 2| extending from end to end through the bit substantially at right angles to the passage I! and saliva in the mouth will be prevented from normally entering the passage [1 to the tobacco or pipe bowl, or to a cigar or cigarette.

The back or exposed end of the bit I8 is provided with a series of narrow slots 23 extending up and down and preferably arranged in parallel series, their direction being substantially upright and forming intermediate and end baffle walls 24.

Any number of such slots may be provided and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 they are arranged in opposite series on opposite sides of the central bore or passage I'I extending substantially upright, but slightly inclined in opposite directions toward each other at the bottom from their upper ends to their lower ends with the inner walls thereof undercut or inclined from the back face of the bit forwardly to partially intersect the passage 2|, as seen especially in Fig. 4. The oppositely inclined parallel series of slots on each side of the center or passage preferably extending from a distance part way down on the back face of the bit |8, such as one-third way down communicate with the bore or passage 2| are undercut, diverge upwardly on opposite sides 4 of the bore or passage I1 and produce an intermediate or center bafiie wall at and. extending across the back end of the passage [1 including the projected area thereof or in line with the bore or passage ll tapering downwardly in the same direction as the opposite slots converge toward each other. This wall is located in back of the passage H and prevents the smoke from being drawn straight through to impinge against the tongue and causing a biting effect of the tongue, lips or cheeks which would ordinarily result in soreness. By reason of the baffle walls 24 and the wall 25, the smoke will be spread in opposite directions and caused to take a tortuous path out through the ends of the tubular bit or horizontal transverse passage 2| and also pass through the upright slots 23, thus preventing a direct draft and serving to spread or divide the smoke into spaced vertical or upright streams so that the same will be maintained dry and cool as well as preventing moisture, nicotine or particles of tobacco entering the mouth or saliva in the mouth from entering the passage H and tobacco in the pipe bowl or holder. Moreover, a proper draft is insured as most of the openings will remain open and unobstructed as compared with a single passage ordinarily provided. It is, of course, to be understood that the stem part, instead of being made to fit a pipe may be made to receive a cigar or cigarette in the case of holders fOr such articles.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, the passage enters the passage 2| slightly below the top thereof as indicated at 26 with the top of passage tangential to the top of the passage 2|, both arrangements having the passage substantially tangentially to the passage 2| either at the periphery or below the same, that is, within the wall thereof. In this case the slots may be arranged as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, or any other suitable spaced relation vertically, upright or inclined, but are shown as slots 2"! arranged on opposite sides of the passage H, but inclined in one or the same direction parallel to each other although they may converge if desired. This provides bafiie walls 28 between the slots and an intermediate or central wall 29 corresponding to the walls 24 and 25 for the same purposes as heretofore described.

-In accordance with the method of producing the stem or mouthpiece, the same is made of a suitable molded plastic such as vulcanized hard rubber or the like, although it may be of Bakelite or other suitable nonbreakable material. The plastic in a soft condition is placed in a suitable mold and cores are provided for the passages I! and 2| in the same relation that these passages are to be finally formed, such as shown in Figs. 4 and '7 of the drawing. A tapered core forms the passage I! and a cylindrical core forms the passage 2| so that the latter will extend through the ends of bit l8 which is also formed at the same time in the mold. In the form shown in Fig. 4,-

the core of the passage ll contacts or is engaged on the periphery of the core which forms the passage 2| and in the form shown in Fig. '7 the core of the passage I1 is curved to fit the core of the passage 2| corresponding to the wall or peripheral line of the passage 2| or the core therein so that the end of the core in the passage I! will be concaved to bring the passage lower down at its point of communication with the passage 2| at the closed end in the bit It formed by the wall 25. By this means, the mouthpiece or stem may be made for a pipe or as a holder for cigar or cigarette with facility. In each case, the smoke will pass into the mouth as heretofore described and at the same time it will prevent a slug of tobacco or nicotine, or particles being drawn into the mouth, as well as insuring a cool dry smoke instead of burning the tongue or mouth, by spreading the smoke into various narrow spaced vertical streams in the manner described. However, the slots may be readily cleaned, if found necessary, and an ordinary pipe cleaner may be inserted through the passage I! as well as the transverse passage 2| for cleaning the same.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing .from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variation and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stem for tobacco pipes, cigar or cigarette holders having a bore and provided with a tubular bit transversely at the mouth end of the stem, having a transverse bore communicating with the bore of the stem, extending substantially tan,- gentially thereto and slots extending up and down in the mouth end of the bit and intersecting the transverse bore.

2. A mouthpiece for smokers articles having a bit provided with a transverse passage open at the ends thereof and a bore longitudinally and communicating with said passage at the top only of the latter, the transverse passage being closed at the back of the bit in the projected area of the bore.

3. A stem for tobacco pipes, cigar or cigarette holders having a bore and provided with a tubular bit transversely at the mouth end of the stem, the bore of the stem extending substantially tangentially thereto, said bit having front shoulders at the top and bottom and a wall extending across the bit end of the bore in line therewith, and slots extending up and down at the back of the bit and communicating with the bore thereof.

4. A mouthpiece for smokers articles having a bit provided with a transverse passage open at the ends thereof and a bore longitudinally and communicating with said passage at the top of the latter, the mouthpiece having a central wall in back of the bore where it communicates with the passage and spaced oppositely inclined rectilinear slots on opposite sides thereof extending into the passage, the slots on opposite sides converging toward each other.

5. A mouthpiece for smokers articles having a bit provided with a transverse passage open at the ends thereof and a bore longitudinally and communicating with said passage at the top portion only of the latter, the mouthpiece having an im- .enlarged bit with a transverse passage communieating with the longitudinal passage, the bit having a solid wall at the back across the top portion thereof and undercut slots at the bottom extending up and down and intersecting the transverse 5 passage.

FRANK C. LA VALLE. 

